The US Healthcare Distribution Management Association, whose membership is composed of major pharmaceutical distributors, will be a key participant in a new FDA programme aimed at keeping counterfeit drugs out of the marketplace.
The purpose of the FDA programme is to better identify the threats Americans face from counterfeit medications, develop new technologies and tools to prevent counterfeiting, consider the need for greater enforcement, and to create a public-private coalition to fight counterfeiters.
To aid the FDA effort, HDMA will lead a task force consisting of manufacturers, distributors, pharmacies, consumer groups and key trade associations to develop a comprehensive plan to implement various industry-wide technological solutions.
The task force will address packaging, labelling, overt and covert product marking and automated identification, including bar codes and radio frequency technology.
“We strongly support FDA's efforts to wipe out counterfeit products in this country. We welcome the opportunity to continue to provide valuable information to the FDA working with our partners in the pharmaceutical distribution supply chain to develop technology solutions that will ensure the safety of products for all consumers.” |
The group will also look to develop guidelines and standards for the industry to follow, thereby increasing the technological adoption rate in the collaborative effort to eliminate this threat from the US healthcare system.
"As an industry, we have worked for years to develop safeguards for consumers against counterfeit products," said president and ceo of HDMA Ronald J. Streck.
"We strongly support FDA's efforts to wipe out counterfeit products in this country. We welcome the opportunity to continue to provide valuable information to the FDA working with our partners in the pharmaceutical distribution supply chain to develop technology solutions that will ensure the safety of products for all consumers."
